Have A Problem?

Archives

Drain lining is becoming a popular method to repair cracks in drainage pipes. Instead of a broken pipe being excavated and replaced, most pipes can now be repaired in situ by inserting a drain liner into the broken section of pipe. The drain liner adheres to the inside of the pipe and an effective seal is created.
Most cracks in drainage pipes can only be found after a CCTV survey has been carried out. The drain may be recurrently becoming blocked or foul odours may be noticed in the vicinity of the drainage pipe. When this happens the drainage professionals will have to carry out a full investigation of the drainage system so the cause of the problem can be located.
The best way that drainage professionals can look at the structure of the drainage system is to use a CCTV survey camera. The camera is inserted into the drain and images of the inside of the drainage pipe are relayed onto a computer screen, which can then be analysed by the drainage professionals.
When the location of the break in the drain has been found, an epoxy-resin liner can be inserted into the drain and blown to the damaged section of pipe. The liner then sets in situ and provides a water tight seal that no water or waste can penetrate.

Blocked and overflowing drainage can be a real cause of concern for homeowners. Many problems with drainage occur when the homeowner fails to take adequate care of the drains within their homes. However, blockages can almost be completely eradicated when a homeowner has a drain maintenance contract in place.
The old adage prevention is better than cure is definitely true in terms of drains. And if a drain is well maintained the incidence of blockages can be dramatically reduced. It’s only when drains are neglected that problems occur, but this doesn’t have to be the case.
Drain maintenance is essential in every home and can be equally important for businesses too. There are many reasons why a drain may become blocked, some of these include:
• Pipe corrosion
• Pipe damage
• Scale build up
• Tree root infiltration
• Pipe collapse
• Ground movement
• Build up of fat or other food waste
• The presence of an non-disposable item
All these problems and more can be treated by drainage professionals in London, who with the help of a drain maintenance programme can put an end to drain blockages and keep your drains properly maintained.

Thames Water has just announced that a major project to increase the capacity of one of London’s major sewer works is now half-way to being completed.
The sewage works at Mogden has seen major refurbishments take place since August 2010 and when complete will be able to cope with an increased quantity of sewage. The upgrade at the site has long been overdue but the end result will see the sewage treated more efficiently and odour levels dramatically reduced. The increased quantity of sewage treated will reduce the chances of storm tanks becoming full at times of heavy rainfall and hence reduce the chances of a discharge into the River Thames.
The sewage works at Mogden are expected to coast in the region of £140m. The head of programme delivery at Thames Water, Nick Fawcett, stated:

“We have done the bulk of the construction work and we’d like to thank the neighbours for bearing with us.
“We’ve done everything we can to minimise disruption but the worst part is over, the foundations are in place and by spring this year half of the new works will be operating.
“We still have a 200-strong team working on the site but the focus of the activity is now shifting from civil engineering – such as building foundations and tanks, to mechanical engineering and electrical installation, which will help to get the tanks up and running.”

Manufacturers of personal hygiene products are being asked to make their labels easy to understand, so products don’t get flushed into the general sewage system.
Waste water company, United Utilities, is currently working with the UK Water Industry and the European Association of Manufacturers so a test protocol can be designed which will enable products to be labelled as sewer friendly. The products will of course have to pass rigorous tests to attain this accreditation.
There are currently many products in the market which are being labelled as safe to flush down the toilet, but are in fact causing countless problems at sewage treatment works. United Utilities run their ‘What Not to Flush’ campaign to try to educate the general public what can and what can’t be flushed down the toilet. But the misleading information currently found on product packaging is hampering their cause.
United Utilities regional wastewater network manager, Mike Wood, stated:

“It’s no wonder our customers are confused. We’re calling on manufacturers and retailers to ensure these products are labelled clearly and correctly, to avoid the mess, expense and environmental damage of sewer flooding.”

Blocked or clogged drainage can happen at any time and anywhere, which is why many people rely on the services of a reliable drain cleaning company to help them out when a problem occurs. For instance, kitchen sinks are commonly blocked by the accumulation of food debris and grease and fat, whereas bathroom sinks and bath tubs are commonly blocked by hair and soap scum.
Blocked drains in North London
If the blockage in the bathroom or the kitchen is severe, common methods used to remove the blockage such as plungers or drain snakes may not work. In these situations it is best to hire a drain cleaning London service which can use specialist equipment to clear the clog.
Many people try to unblock drains themselves, but only make matters worse when water overflows and damages their property. Professional drain cleaners in London have all the equipment on hand to do the job easily. And because they tackle drain blockages every day are well versed at clearing all sorts of clogs.
If you have a drain blockage in North London, you should always turn to a professional service which will solve the problem for you.

The drainage system in London is being put under increasing pressure as the population continues to rise. It is therefore essential to opt for a drain cleaning service in London so that you can be sure that your drains will work trouble-free and you won’t have to suffer the inconvenience of a blockage.
Drainage can become blocked in a number of different ways. And grease and fat build up are two of the most common causes of drain blockage. The fat can solidify on the walls of the drainage pipe and reduce its waste carrying capacity. When the accumulation becomes severe the drain can become blocked completely. There are of course a number of natural reasons why a drain may become blocked, such as silt build up and root intrusion, but in any of these cases drain cleaning and drain maintenance is best left to the professionals.
There are many drain maintenance companies operating in London, but it’s always a good idea to choose one that offers a fixed price policy and one which provides a range of competitive and affordable solutions.
If you choose a drain maintenance contract with one of these companies you will be sure that blockages will become a thing of the past and your drains will continue to operate trouble-free.

Heavy rainfall in the city of London can cause many problems for the decades old sewer system. When rainfall levels are higher than normal the Victorian sewer system cannot cope with the amount of waste water that needs to be sent to the local treatment works, so instead it flows though emergency overflows into the River Thames.
To improve the water quality in the river and to bring the city in line with current environmental thinking, a super sewer has been proposed underneath the city, roughly following the current line of the river. Built at a depth of 75 metres this super sewer will be able to collect and transfer the excess rainfall from the Victorian system to improved treatment works on the outskirts of the city.
It is hoped that when the super sewer is complete that the 34 most polluting discharge points along the river will instead have their discharges sent to the Becton Sewage works in the east of the city. The cost for the completion of the work has been estimated at £4.1bn and construction has been provisionally scheduled for 2016.

Due to their size and their location, it is simply not possible to view the inside of many drains in the city of London. However, if you use CCTV survey equipment, this can give you images of the inside of the drainage pipes so the site of a blockage can be found.
CCTV surveys in London can be very beneficial in terms of finding out problems with drainage. As part of a routine maintenance programme or as part of remedial works, a CCTV camera can be inserted into a drain and images can then be viewed by the drainage contractor. The images can be analysed and an appropriate solution to the problem found.
The CCTV survey imagery will give the operator some indication about the condition of the drain. This can then be used to set out an action plan to either perform other drain maintenance activities or to use another system to solve a blockage.
After a CCTV survey things which may be suggested include using coring plant to remove scale from a pipe, installation of a liner to repair a damaged section of drain or excavation of the drain due to drain collapse.

One of the most common problems which drainage engineers face is root intrusion. When a drainage pipe is cracked or damaged roots find their way into the pipe and then quickly multiply. When this happens the waste flowing through the pipe finds it difficult to pass which eventually results in a drain blockage.
If you have a blocked drain, the first thing a drainage company may try is high pressure water jetting. In this method of drain cleaning the drainage engineer will direct a high pressure jet of water down the drain to remove any accumulated debris. This however will not work if the system is blocked by roots. So when drain jetting fails, the drainage experts may suggest a CCTV survey so they can see what is causing the problem. If roots are found to be the cause, they can then suggest a suitable repair.
If roots are blocking a drain, the drain does not have to be excavated and the section of pipe replaced. Instead a spinning root cutter can be inserted into the drain which will trim the roots back to the pipe diameter. To stop the roots re-infiltrating the pipe, a liner can be inserted into the pipe which will seal the pipe and effectively stop further infiltration and hence damage.

In part one of this article we discussed the problems associated with leaks around the home and how you should check potential leak sites on a regular basis.
Waste water connections should always be checked alongside general water connections. If a waste water pipe were to fail, a usual problem alongside the water is the nasty smell that can emanate from the drain. The waste connections under a sink or a bath are usually only push-fit, so these are common failure points. It’s also worth checking the connections between your toilet and waste water pipe to see if these are in good condition. Plastic connections can deteriorate with age and cause untold damage if left to leak.
Further checks should also be made outside your home. The waste water pipe will usually be situated on the side of your house and lead your waste to the public sewer system. Although it is difficult for a homeowner to check the condition of the inside of this pipe, it is a good idea to check the outside of it for cracks or damage.
If further problems are being experienced a phone call to a local drainage company should be all that is needed for them to come and check the drainage system for you. They have the latest CCTV survey equipment at their disposal which they can insert into the drain to check for issues.